In this work we study the dynamics of free 3D relativistic Gaussian wave packets with different spin polarization. We analyze the connection between the symmetry of initial state and the dynamical characteristics of moving particle. The corresponding solutions of Dirac equation having different types of symmetry were evaluated analytically and numerically and after that the electron probability densities, as well as, the spin densities were visualized. The average values of velocity of the packet center and the average spin were calculated analytically, and the parameters of transient Zitterbewegung in different directions were obtained. These results can be useful for the interpretation of future experiments with trapped ions.
We show that a wide class of quantum systems with translational invariance can host dispersionless, soliton-like, wave packets. We focus on the setting where the effective, two-dimensional Hamiltonian acquires the form of the Dirac operator. The proposed framework for construction of the dispersionless wave packets is illustrated on silicene-like systems with topologically nontrivial effective mass. Our analytical predictions are accompanied by a numerical analysis and possible experimental realizations are discussed.
In a recent article [10], the authors proved that the non-relativistic Schrödinger operator with a generic honeycomb lattice potential has conical (Dirac) points in its dispersion surfaces. These conical points occur for quasi-momenta, which are located at the vertices of the Brillouin zone, a regular hexagon. In this paper, we study the time-evolution of wave-packets, which are spectrally concentrated near such conical points. We prove that the large, but finite, time dynamics is governed by the two-dimensional Dirac equations.
In this paper, we introduce an extension of the Dirac equation, very similar to Dirac oscillator, that gives stationary localized wave packets as eigenstates of the equation. The extension to the Dirac equation is achieved through the replacement of the momentum operator by a PT-symmetric generalized momentum operator. In the 1D case, the solutions represent bound particles carrying spin having continuous energy spectrum, where the envelope parameter defines the width of the packet without affecting the dispersion relation of the original Dirac equation. In the 2D case, the solutions are local…
Localization of relativistic particles have been of great research interests over many decades. We investigate the time evolution of the Gaussian wave packets governed by the one dimensional Dirac equation. For the free Dirac equation, we obtain the evolution profiles analytically in many approximation regimes, and numerical simulations consistent with other numerical schemes. Interesting behaviors such as Zitterbewegung and Klein paradox are exhibited. In particular, the dispersion rate as a function of mass is calculated, and it yields an interesting result that super-massive and massless pa…
The explicit expression for the inclusive probability to record a photon created in transition radiation from a one Dirac particle wave packet traversing an ideally conducting plate is derived in the leading order of perturbation theory. The anomalous magnetic moment of the Dirac particle is taken into account. It is shown that the quantum corrections to transition radiation from an electrically charged particle give rise to production of photons with polarization vector orthogonal to the reaction plane ($E$-plane). These corrections result from both the quantum recoil and the finite size of a…
Wave packets in graphene whose central wave vector is at Dirac points are investigated by numerical calculations. Starting from an initial Gaussian function, these wave packets form into annular peaks that propagate to all directions like ripple-rings on water surface. At the beginning, electronic probability alternates between the central peak and the ripple-rings and transient oscillation occurs at the center. As time increases, the ripple-rings propagate at the fixed Fermi speed, and their widths remain unchanged. The axial symmetry of the energy dispersion leads to the circular symmetry of…
The idea of wave mechanics leads naturally to assume the well-known relation $E=\hbar ω$ in the specific form $H=\hbar W$, where $H$ is the classical Hamiltonian of a particle and $W$ is the dispersion relation of the sought-for wave equation. We derive the expression of $H$ in a curved spacetime with an electromagnetic field. Then we derive the Dirac equation from factorizing the polynomial dispersion equation corresponding with $H$. Conversely, summarizing a recent work, we implement the geometrical optics approximation into a canonical form of the Dirac Lagrangian. Euler-Lagrange equations …
We study quantum dynamics of a kicked relativistic spin-half particle in a one dimensional box. Time-dependence of the average kinetic energy and evolution of the wave packet are explored. Kicking potential is introduced as the Lorentz-scalar, i.e., through the mass-term in the Dirac equation. It is found that depending on the values of the kicking parameters E(t) can be periodic, monotonically growing and non-periodic function of time. Particle transport in the system is studied by considering spatio-temporal evolution of the Gaussian wave packet.Splitting of the packet into two symmetric par…
The motion of circular WP for one electron in central Coulomb field with high Z is calculated. The WP is defined in terms of solutions of the Dirac equation in order to take into account all possible relevant effects in particular the spin-orbit potential. A time scale is defined within which spin dynamics must be taken into account mainly in the atoms with high Z. Within this time scale there exists a mechanism of collapses and revivals of the spin already shown by the authors for harmonic oscillator potential and called the 'spin-orbit pendulum'. However this effect has not the exact periodi…
Hestenes has shown that a bispinor field on a Minkowski space-time is equivalent to an orthonormal tetrad of one-forms together with a complex scalar field. More recently, the Dirac and Einstein equations were unified in a tetrad formulation of a Kaluza-Klein model which gives precisely the usual Dirac-Einstein Lagrangian. In this model, Dirac's bispinor equation is obtained in the limit for which the radius of higher compact dimensions of the Kaluza-Klein manifold becomes vanishingly small compared with the Planck length. For a small but finite radius, the Kaluza-Klein model predicts velocity…
We consider systems described by the two-dimensional Dirac equation where the Fermi velocity is inhomogeneous as a consequence of mechanical deformations. We show that the mechanical deformations can lead to deflection and focusing of the wave packets. The analogy with known reflectionless quantum systems is pointed out. Furthermore, with the use of the qualitative spectral analysis, we discuss how inhomogeneous strains can be used to create waveguides for valley polarized transport of partially dispersionless wave packets.
The time-dependent Dirac equation is solved using the three-dimensional Finite Difference-Time Domain (FDTD) method. The dynamics of the electron wave packet in a vector potential is studied in the arrangements associated with the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The solution of the Dirac equation showed a change in the velocity of the electron wave packet even in a region where no forces acted on the electron. The solution of the Dirac equation agreed with the prediction of classical dynamics under the assumption that the dynamics was defined by the conservation of generalized or canonical momentum. It …
The properties of group delay for Dirac particles traveling through a potential well are investigated. A necessary condition is put forward for the group delay to be negative. It is shown that this negative group delay is closely related to its anomalous dependence on the width of the potential well. In order to demonstrate the validity of stationary-phase approach, numerical simulations are made for Gaussian-shaped temporal wave packets. A restriction to the potential-well's width is obtained that is necessary for the wave packet to remain distortionless in the travelling. Numerical compariso…
This article investigates some solutions of the time-dependent free Dirac equation. Visualizations of these solutions immediately reveal strange phenomena that are caused by the interference of positive- and negative-energy waves. The effects discussed here include the Zitterbewegung, the opposite direction of momentum and velocity in negative-energy wave packets, and the superluminal propagation of the wave packet's local maxima.
The time-dependent Dirac equation is solved using the three-dimensional Finite Difference-Time Domain (FDTD) method. The dynamics of the electron wave packet in a scalar potential is studied in the arrangements associated with the Klein paradox: potential step barriers and linear potentials. No Klein paradox is observed.
There are important differences between the nonrelativistic and relativistic description of electron beams. The orbital angular momentum quantum number cannot be used to specify the wave functions in the relativistic case. In this Letter we introduce analytic solutions of the Dirac equation in the form of exponential wave packets and we argue that they properly describe relativistic electron beams carrying angular momentum.
The time-dependent Dirac equation is solved using the three-dimensional Finite Difference-Time Domain (FDTD) method. The dynamics of the electron wave packet in a vector potential is studied in the arrangements associated with the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The solution of the Dirac equation showed a change in the velocity of the electron wave packet even in a region where no fields of the unperturbed solenoid acted on the electron. The solution of the Dirac equation qualitatively agreed with the prediction of classical dynamics under the assumption that the dynamics was defined by the conservation…
Drawing from the optimal transport theory adapted to the relativistic setting we formulate the principle of a causal flow of probability and apply it in the wave packet formalism. We demonstrate that whereas the Dirac system is causal, the relativistic-Schrödinger Hamiltonian impels a superluminal evolution of probabilities. We quantify the causality breakdown in the latter system and argue that, in contrast to the popular viewpoint, it is not related to the localisation properties of the states.
Closed-form, normalizable solutions of Dirac's equation propagating within a semi-infinite cylindrical waveguide are obtained in terms of ordinary and modified Bessel functions. These relativistic wave packets induce quantum backflow on a cross-section of the cylinder at practically any distance along the waveguide, becoming spin-polarized in the nonrelativistic limit. The predicted backflow is stable in time and is manifest regardless of the initial wave function.
We discuss four general features of force-free evolution: (1) The spatial spread of any packet changes with time in a very simple way. (2) Over sufficiently short periods of time (whose duration is related to the spread in momentum of the packet) the probability distribution moves but there is little change in shape. (3) After a sufficiently long period (related to the initial spatial spread) the packet settles into a simple form simply related to the momentum distribution in the packet. In this asymptotic regime, the shape of the probability distribution no longer changes except for its scale…
We consider an electron wave packet evolution in the external deterministic electric field with Gaussian white noise addition. An explicit expression was given for the averaged probability flux with Gaussian initial wave function. We show that the noise addition increases wave packet spreading rate, which has a significant influence on flux amplitude and may play both destructive and constructive role. This depends on the form and amplitude of external deterministic field.
The geometrical phase of a time-dependent singular oscillator is obtained in the framework of Gaussian wave packet. It is shown by a simple geometrical approach that the geometrical phase is connected to the classical nonadiabatic Hannay angle of the generalized harmonic oscillator.
We probe the dynamic evolution of a Stark wave packet in cesium using weak half-cycle pulses (HCP's). The state-selective field ionization(SSFI) spectra taken as a function of HCP delay reveal wave packet dynamics such as Kepler beats, Stark revivals and fractional revivals. A quantum-mechanical simulation explains the results as multi-mode interference induced by the HCP.
We consider systems governed by the Gross Pitaevskii equation (GPE) with the Morse potential $V(x)=D(e^{-2ax}-2e^{-ax})$ as the trapping potential. For positive values of the coupling constant $g$ of the cubic term in GPE, we find that the critical value $g_c$ beyond which there are no bound states scales as $D^{3/4}$ (for large $D$). Studying the quantum evolution of wave packets, we observe that for $g<g_c$, the initial wave packet needs a critical momentum for the packet to escape from the potential. For $g>g_c$, on the otherhand, all initial wave packets escape from the potential and the d…
Berry and Balazs showed that an initial Airy packet Ai(b x) under time evolution is nonspreading in free space and also in a homogeneous time-varying linear potential V(x,t)=-F(t) x. We find both results can be derived from the time evolution operator U(t). We show that U(t) can be decomposed into ordered product of operators and is essentially a shift operator in x; hence, Airy packets evolve without distortion. By writing the Hamiltonian H as H=H_b+H_i, where H_b is the Hamiltonian such that Ai(b x) is its eigenfunction. Then, H_i is shown to be as an interacting Hamiltonian that causes the …
Localized quantum wave packets can be produced in a variety of physical systems and are the subject of much current research in atomic, molecular, chemical, and condensed-matter physics. They are particularly well suited for studying the classical limit of a quantum-mechanical system. The motion of a localized quantum wave packet initially follows the corresponding classical motion. However, in most cases the quantum wave packet spreads and undergoes a series of collapses and revivals. We present a generic treatment of wave-packet evolution, and we provide conditions under which various types …
Time evolution of radial wave packets built from the eigenstates of Dirac equation for a hydrogenic systems is considered. Radial wave packets are constructed from the states of different $n$ quantum number and the same lowest angular momentum. In general they exhibit a kind of breathing motion with dispersion and (partial) revivals. Calculations show that for some particular preparations of the wave packet one can observe interesting effects in spin motion, coming from inherent entanglement of spin and orbital degrees of freedom. These effects manifest themselves through some oscillations in …
In this paper a coherent superposition of angular momentum states created by absorption of polarized light by molecules is analyzed. Attention is paid to the time evolution of wave packets representing spatial orientation of internuclear axis of diatomic molecule. Two examples are considered in detail. Molecules absorbing light in a permanent magnetic field experiencing Zeeman effect and molecules absorbing light in a permanent electric field experiencing quadratic Stark effect. In a magnetic field we have a wave packet that evolves in time exactly as classical dipole oscillator in a permanent…
We present a method to calculate exact dynamics of a wave-packet in a quantum two-state problem with Dirac delta coupling. The advantage of our method is that the calculations are done in the time domain. Hence inverting the solutions from other domains (Laplace or Fourier domain) do not intervene us from presenting the solution in the time domain. The initial wave packet is considered to be a Gaussian function. The wave propagation in the quantum state is governed by time-dependent Schrödinger equation and the coupling is given by non-diagonal element in the matrix representation. We present …
We prove that, under the condition of validity of the Fresnel approximation, diffraction and interference for a wave traveling in the z-direction may be described in terms of the spreading in time of the transverse (x,y)-wave packet. The time required for the evolved wave packet to yield identical patterns as given by standard optics corresponds to the time for the quantum to cross the optical apparatus. This point of view may provide interesting cues in wave mechanics and quantum physics education.
A self-adjoint dynamical time operator is introduced in Dirac's relativistic formulation of quantum mechanics and shown to satisfy a commutation relation with the Hamiltonian analogous to that of the position and momentum operators. The ensuing time-energy uncertainty relation involves the uncertainty in the instant of time when the wave packet passes a particular spatial position and the energy uncertainty associated with the wave packet at the same time, as envisaged originally by Bohr. The instantaneous rate of change of the position expectation value with respect to the simultaneous expect…
The semiclassical long-time limit of free evolution of quantum wave packets on the torus is under consideration. Despite of simplicity of this system, there are still open questions concerning the detailed description of the evolution on time scales beyond the Ehrenfest time. One of the approaches is based on the limiting Wigner or Husimi distributions of time-evolved wave packets as the Planck constant tends to zero and time tends to infinity. We derive explicit expressions for semiclassical measures corresponding to all time scales and the corresponding stages of evolution: classical-like mo…
We study the evolution of a wave packet impinging onto a one dimensional potential barrier. The transmission and reflection times discussed in the literature for stationary states do not correspond to the times required for the emergence of a transmitted or a reflected packet. We propose new definitions for the interaction (dwell) time and the transmission and reflection times which are suitable for packets and fit better the actual time evolution of the packet.
We show the method for constructing nonspreading wave packets whose shape and motion can be general. We analyze the time evolution of nonspreading wave packets by decomposing the Hamiltonian into two parts. Of the two, one changes the instantaneous state, the other does not. Through this decomposition, the time evolution operator is shown to be effectively a spatial shifting operator. This explains why nonspreading wave packets can be nonspreading. And we show that the part of the Hamiltonian which changes the instantaneous state governs the motion of the nonspreading wave packets.
We derive an exact analytical solution to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for transmission of a Gaussian wave packet through an arbitrary potential of finite range. We consider the situation where the initial Gaussian wave packet is sufficiently broad in momentum space to guarantee that the resonance structure of the system is included in the dynamical description. We demonstrate that the transmitted wave packet exhibits a transient behavior which at very large distances and long times may be written as the free evolving Gaussian wave packet solution times the transmission amplitude of…
We examine the dynamical evolution of wave packets in a cubical billiard where three quantum numbers ($n_x,n_y,n_z$) determine its energy spectrum and consequently its dynamical behavior. We have constructed the wave packet in the cubical billiard and have observed its time evolution for various closed orbits. The closed orbits are possible for certain specific values of quantum numbers ($n_x,n_y,n_z$) and initial momenta ($k_x,k_y,k_z$). We observe that a cubical billiard exhibits degenerate energy levels and the path lengths of the closed orbits for these degenerate energy levels are identic…
The phenomenon of wave packet diffraction in space and time is described. It consists in a diffraction pattern whose spatial location progresses with time. The pattern is produced by wave packet quantum scattering off an attractive or repulsive time independent potential. An analytical formula for the pattern at $t\to\infty$ is derived both in one dimension and in three dimensions. The condition for the pattern to exist is developed. The phenomenon is shown numerically and analytically for the Dirac equation in one dimension also. An experiment for the verification of the phenomenon is describ…
This paper begins with an examination of the revival structure and long-term evolution of Rydberg wave packets for hydrogen. We show that after the initial cycle of collapse and fractional/full revivals, which occurs on the time scale $t_{\rm rev}$, a new sequence of revivals begins. We find that the structure of the new revivals is different from that of the fractional revivals. The new revivals are characterized by periodicities in the motion of the wave packet with periods that are fractions of the revival time scale $t_{\rm rev}$. These long-term periodicities result in the autocorrelation…
Time evolution of wave packets built from the eigenstates of the Dirac equation for a hydrogenic system is considered. We investigate the space and spin motion of wave packets which, in the non-relativistic limit, are stationary states with a probability density distributed uniformly along the classical, elliptical orbit (elliptic WP). We show that the precession of such a WP, due to relativistic corrections to the energy eigenvalues, is strongly correlated with the spin motion. We show also that the motion is universal for all hydrogenic systems with an arbitrary value of the atomic number Z.
The quantum evolution of the Wigner function for Gaussian wave packets generated by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian is investigated. In the semiclassical limit $\hbar\to 0$ this yields the non-Hermitian analog of the Ehrenfest theorem for the dynamics of observable expectation values. The lack of Hermiticity reveals the importance of the complex structure on the classical phase space: The resulting equations of motion are coupled to an equation of motion for the phase space metric---a phenomenon having no analog in Hermitian theories.
We show that by adding a quadratic phase to an initial arbitrary wavefunction, its free evolution maintains an invariant structure while it spreads by the action of an squeeze operator. Although such invariance is an approximation, we show that it matches perfectly the exact evolution.
It is known that, after formation, a Rydberg wave packet undergoes a series of collapses and revivals within a time period called the revival time, $t_{\rm rev}$, at the end of which it is close to its original shape. We study the behavior of Rydberg wave packets on time scales much greater than $t_{\rm rev}$. We show that after a few revival cycles the wave packet ceases to reform at multiples of the revival time. Instead, a new series of collapses and revivals commences, culminating after a time period $t_{\rm sr} \gg t_{\rm rev}$ with the formation of a wave packet that more closely resembl…
One may ask whether the relations between energy and frequency and between momentum and wave vector, introduced for matter waves by de Broglie, are rigorously valid in the presence of gravity. In this paper, we show this to be true for Dirac equations in a background of gravitational and electromagnetic fields. We first transform any Dirac equation into an equivalent canonical form, sometimes used in particular cases to solve Dirac equations in a curved spacetime. This canonical form is needed to apply the Whitham Lagrangian method. The latter method, unlike the WKB method, places no restricti…
We introduce power-law tail quantum wave packets. We show that they can be seen as eigenfunctions of a Hamiltonian with a physical potential. We prove that the free evolution of these packets presents an asymptotic decay of the maximum of the wave packets which is anomalous for an interval of the characterizing power-law exponent. We also prove that the number of finite moments of the wave packets is a conserved quantity during the evolution of the wave packet in the free space.
The dynamics of wave packets in a relativistic Dirac oscillator is compared to that of the Jaynes-Cummings model. The strong spin-orbit coupling of the Dirac oscillator produces the entanglement of the spin with the orbital motion similar to what is observed in the model of quantum optics. The collapses and revivals of the spin which result extend to a relativistic theory our previous findings on nonrelativistic oscillator where they were known under the name of `spin-orbit pendulum'. There are important relativistic effects (lack of periodicity, zitterbewegung, negative energy states). Many o…
We investigate the time evolution of momentum and position uncertainties for wave packets of arbitrary shape in at most quadratic potentials. We consider all possible cases of potentials and initial conditions. Doing so we see that the mixed uncertainty and for Gaussian wave packets moreover the chirp are convenient and important tools to identify the characteristic features of uncertainty dynamics. Special attention is given to the spreading and narrowing of wave packets.
We consider Dirac quasi-particles, as realized with cold atoms loaded in a honeycomb lattice or in a $π$-flux square lattice, in the presence of a weak correlated disorder such that the disorder fluctuations do not couple the two Dirac points of the lattices. We numerically and theoretically investigate the time evolution of the momentum distribution of such quasi-particles when they are initially prepared in a quasi-monochromatic wave packet with a given mean momentum. The parallel transport of the pseudo-spin degree of freedom along scattering paths in momentum space generates a geometrical …
The Lanczos algorithm is evaluated for solving the time-independent as well as the time-dependent Dirac equation with arbitrary electromagnetic fields. We demonstrate that the Lanczos algorithm can yield very precise eigenenergies and allows very precise time propagation of relativistic wave packets. The unboundedness of the Dirac Hamiltonian does not hinder the applicability of the Lanczos algorithm. As the Lanczos algorithm requires only matrix-vector products and inner products, which both can be efficiently parallelized, it is an ideal method for large-scale calculations. The excellent par…
We have analytically studied bound states of the one-dimensional Dirac equation for scalar and vector double square-well potentials (DSPs), by using the transfer-matrix method. Detailed numerical calculations of the eigenvalue, wave function and density probability have been performed for the three cases: (1) vector DSP only, (2) scalar DSP only, and (3) scalar and vector DSPs with equal magnitudes. We discuss the difference and similarity among results of the cases (1)-(3) in the Dirac equation and that in the Schrödinger equation. Motion of a wave packet is calculated for a study on quantum …
By pursuing the deep relation between the one-dimensional Dirac equation and quantum walks, the physical role of quantum interference in the latter is explained. It is shown that the time evolution of the probability density of a quantum walker, initially localized on a lattice, is directly analogous to relativistic wave-packet spreading. Analytic wave-packet solutions reveal a striking connection between the discrete and continuous time quantum walks.
The dynamics of quantum systems can be approximated by the time propagation of Gaussian wave packets. Applying a time dependent variational principle, the time evolution of the parameters of the coupled Gaussian wave packets can be calculated from a set of ordinary differential equations. Unfortunately, the set of equations is ill-behaved in most practical applications, depending on the number of propagated Gaussian wave packets, and methods for regularization are needed. We present a general method for regularization based on applying adequate nonholonomic inequality constraints to the evolut…
Based on the Dirac equation, the behavior of relativistic electrons which tunnel a potential barrier of height V0 for incoming energies between V0 and V0+m is studied by using the wave packet formalism. The choice of this incoming energy zone guarantees that only electrons participate to the tunneling process. In the opaque limit, as shown in a previous analysis, the transit velocity is proportional to the barrier width and for relativistic potential tends to a constant value greater than $c$. In this paper, a new numerical study shows a very surprising result: superluminal transmissions are a…
We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method to prepare a nonspreading atomic wave packet. Our technique relies on a spatially modulated absorption constantly chiseling away from an initially broad de Broglie wave. The resulting contraction is balanced by dispersion due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This quantum evolution results in the formation of a nonspreading wave packet of Gaussian form with a spatially quadratic phase. Experimentally, we confirm these predictions by observing the evolution of the momentum distribution. Moreover, by employing interferometric techniques, we…
The Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT) effect, at the quantum level, is essentially an interference of one particle with another, as opposed to interference of a particle with itself. Conventional treatments of identical particles encounter difficulties while dealing with entanglement. A recently introduced label-free approach to indistinguishable particles is described, and is used to analyze the HBT effect. Quantum wave-packets have been used to provide a better understanding of the quantum interpretation of the HBT effect. The effect is demonstrated for two independent particles governed by Bose-Ein…
It is well known that a state with complex energy cannot be the eigenstate of a self-adjoint operator, like the Hamiltonian. Resonances, i.e. states with exponentially decaying observables, are not vectors belonging to the conventional Hilbert space. One can describe these resonances in an unusual mathematical formalism, based on the so-called Rigged Hilbert Space (RHS). In the RHS, the states with complex energy are denoted as Gamow Vectors (GV), and they model decay processes. We study GV of the Reversed Harmonic Oscillator (RHO), and we analytically and numerically investigate the unstable …
Asymptotic Momentum of Dirac Particles in One Space Dimension
Université Paris-Saclay（巴黎萨克雷大学）；University of Texas, Austin（德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校）；Department of Mathematics, Rutgers University (New Brunswick)（罗格斯大学（新不伦瑞克）数学系）
